About The Author: Travis Baugh is a Digital Brand Marketing Manager for Bryant, where he creates clear, helpful content to guide homeowners through heating, cooling, and indoor air quality decisions. His goal is to empower readers with the knowledge they need to choose the right comfort solutions for their home—confidently and comfortably.
Your Guide To Finding The Best Air Conditioner for Your Home
By Travis Baugh
Choosing the best air conditioner for your home is crucial for creating a comfortable and enjoyable living environment. At Bryant, we are committed to providing the right air conditioners to meet your cooling needs. Our selection includes the best AC units with superior efficiency, energy savings, quiet operation, and smart features to enhance your comfort and convenience. Let’s dive into the factors that can help you select the best air conditioner for your home.
Seven Factors To Choose the Best Air Conditioner For Your Home
Selecting an air conditioner involves several important considerations.
David Fowler, owner of Family Heating and Air in Pensacola, Florida, highlights several key factors to consider when selecting the best air conditioner for your home.
“One of the most important things is it's the correct size for the home,” Fowler said. “Another is how long you are going to live in the home; if it's short-term, you may not invest as much as you would if you were staying in the home long-term. Additionally, think about the overall comfort level expected of the home: do you want the unit to remove humidity
By better understanding these factors, you can make an informed decision and choose the best air conditioner for your specific needs.
1. Energy Efficiency
An important aspect of energy efficiency is the SEER2 rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, which measures the cooling output of an air conditioner over a typical cooling season. The higher the SEER2 rating, the more efficient the unit is, resulting in lower energy consumption and operating costs. Also, consider the EER2, which measures how efficiently an air conditioner or heat pump operates at a fixed outdoor temperature of 95°F. Energy-efficient air conditioners also help reduce your carbon footprint.
"EER2 is measured under peak load instead of a seasonal load," Fowler said. "That way, homeowners know when it's really hot outside that their unit is going to maintain the efficiency that it was designed to maintain."
Our commitment to energy efficiency extends beyond SEER2 and EER2 ratings. Our air conditioners incorporate features like variable-speed compressors, which adjust cooling output based on your home's specific needs. This improves energy efficiency and enhances comfort by maintaining a consistent indoor temperature.
“It’s important to think about the efficiency of the unit,” Fowler said. “That can go a long way in impacting your energy bill.”
2. Environmental Impact
Bryant air conditioners utilize environmentally-friendly Puron Advance™ refrigerant. Puron Advance ™ is a non-ozone depleting refrigerant with a low global warming potential, contributing to a greener environment. Choosing a Bryant air conditioner allows you to enjoy advanced energy-saving technologies while minimizing your environmental footprint.
3. Type of Air Conditioner Needed
Another factor is the type of air conditioner that suits your requirements. There are three main types of air conditioners: central, ductless, and packaged. Each is suited for different needs and spaces.
- Central Air Conditioning: Central air conditioning is designed to cool an entire home. It consists of an outdoor unit (AC or heat pump) and an indoor unit (evaporator coil and furnace or heat pump). Air is cooled and then distributed through a system of ducts into each room. Central AC is ideal for where cooling for an entire home is needed. It’s efficient but requires ductwork for installation.
- Ductless Mini Split Systems: Ductless mini split systems are ideal for homes without existing ducts or for room-specific cooling. A mini split system has an outdoor compressor unit and one or more indoor air-handling units, which are mounted on the wall or ceiling of individual rooms. These systems offer flexibility as you can control the temperature in each room independently, making them energy-efficient. Ductless units are a good option for homes with limited space or areas that need additional cooling.
- Packaged Air Conditioners: Packaged units combine all components—compressor, condenser, evaporator coil, and blower—into a single outdoor unit, often placed outside the home. Packaged systems are used in homes with limited indoor space for HVAC components. They are efficient, easy to install, and require less indoor space but are best suited for specific home types and climates.
4. Quiet Operation
When selecting the best air conditioner for your home, consider the noise level it produces. A quiet environment is essential for peace of mind and overall comfort. Bryant offers air conditioners with a decibel level as low as 51 during the lowest capacity cooling operating condition in the Evolution Extreme 26 Variable Speed Air Conditioner.
All EvolutionTM Series air conditioners feature an AeroQuiet™ System II design with a compressor sound blanket and quiet mount split post compressor grommets to ensure whisper-quiet operation, allowing you to enjoy a cool and tranquil indoor environment without disruptive noise.
Evolution Series air conditioners have a soft start and smooth ramp up as well. This means you can relax, unwind, and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere at home, undisturbed by the hum of your air conditioner.
“Noise level can be a concern depending on where the outdoor air conditioner is located," Mike Lea, co-owner of Lea Heating & Air Conditioning in East Dundee, IL said. "A lot of customers have air conditioners that sit outside their bedroom windows, so they’re looking for lower noise levels."
5. Humidity Control
Comfort goes beyond temperature control. Humidity control is a crucial feature in air conditioners. Bryant EvolutionTM Series air conditioners offer extreme humidity control and can remove up to 400% more moisture than standard systems.1 By maintaining optimal humidity, Bryant EvolutionTM units create a more comfortable living environment, which is especially important in regions with high moisture levels. Additionally, controlling humidity may help improve indoor air quality by reducing allergens like mold and dust mites, which thrive in humid conditions.
6. Smart Features and Convenience
When finding the best air conditioner for your home, consider the smart features and convenience that modern units offer.
Smart air conditioners enhance overall comfort with sensors that detect changes in temperature and humidity, automatically adjusting the cooling settings. This ensures your home remains at the optimal temperature, providing the perfect environment to relax and unwind.
Remote control and scheduling capabilities are additional advantages of smart air conditioners. With the Bryant SmartHome App, you can easily control your Bryant Evolution System from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet. Whether at work or on vacation, you can adjust the temperature, fan speed, and mode settings. The scheduling feature allows you to set your preferred temperature for different times of the day, ensuring your home is always comfortable when you arrive.
Many Bryant air conditioners also integrate with popular smart home platforms. You can control your air conditioner using voice commands or through automation routines. Imagine saying, "Alexa, set the temperature to 72 degrees," and your air conditioner responds accordingly. It's convenience at its finest.
7. Warranty and Customer Support
Investing in a new air conditioner requires a reliable warranty for peace of mind, ensuring protection against unexpected issues or malfunctions.
Bryant understands the importance of a reliable warranty and is committed to exceptional customer satisfaction. Our goal is to deliver high-quality products that stand the test of time, backed by comprehensive warranty coverage.
All Bryant air conditioners come with a 10-year parts limited warranty upon timely registration. The limited warranty period is five years on parts if not registered within 90 days except in jurisdictions where warranty benefits are not conditioned upon registration will automatically receive a 10-year parts limited warranty.
Additionally, Bryant EvolutionTM series air conditioners come with a Red ShieldTM 10-year unit replacement warranty if registered within 90 days of installation.2 Should a major component like the compressor, evaporator coil or heat exchanger fail due to defect during this applicable time-period, a one-time AC replacement with a comparable Bryant unit will be provided.
Learn more about the warranty provided when you purchase a Bryant air conditioner.
Work With A Bryant Dealer To Find The Best Air Conditioner For Your Home
Bryant air conditioners are renowned for their superior performance and reliability. With advanced cooling technology and energy-efficient features, Bryant air conditioners provide optimal comfort while helping you save on cooling costs.
Connect with your local Bryant dealer to determine the best air conditioner for your home.
1 Based on Bryant testing under simulated “worst case” conditions, as compared to a single-stage 13.0 SEER unit.
2Unit replacement limited warranty is not available to subsequent owners. The limited warranty period is five years if not registered within 90 days except in jurisdictions where warranty benefits cannot be conditioned on registration will automatically receive a 10-year unit replacement limited warranty. See limited warranty certificate at Bryant.com for complete details and restrictions.
Discover Bryant Air Conditioners
A Bryant air conditioner offers reliable performance, energy efficiency, and advanced cooling technology to keep your home comfortable year-round. With high SEER2 ratings, Bryant units provide cost-effective operation, reducing energy bills while delivering powerful cooling. Their durable construction ensures long-lasting performance, and quiet operation enhances home comfort. Plus, Bryant’s smart thermostat compatibility and industry-leading warranties make it a trusted choice for homeowners seeking efficient, dependable cooling solutions.
Learn More About Air Conditioners
- Learn about how does air conditioning work
- Get in the know on air conditioning service
- Find out what is a split AC unit and an inverter air conditioner
- Explore AC installation
- Understand AC maintenance and AC tune ups
- Understand what size air conditioner you need
- Explore wall AC and garage AC unit options
- Understand BTU
- Read our guides to AC parts and air conditioning systems
- Get help with an AC not working, mold in air conditioner, AC leaking water, AC smells, or AC not blowing cold air
- Explore the ins and outs of AC capacitors and AC drain lines
- Learn about AC refrigerant, including R-22 refrigerant, R-410A refrigerant and R-454B refrigerant
- Find out how long do AC units last?
- Learn how to clean AC coils , how to clean air conditioners, and how to perform air filter replacement
- Discover the difference in a heat pump vs air conditioner
- Find out what temperature to set air conditioner in summer
- Learn about AC sizes: 2 ton, 3 ton, 4 ton, 5 ton
